Watching Rob Ianello at the podium yesterday was bizarre. Here was a different coach in charge of the Notre Dame football program.

I feel sorry for the rest of this coaching staff, shouldering on without the man that brought them to town. From newcomers and true professionals like Frank Verducci, Tony Alfort and Randy Hart, to guys that have spent years in South Bend like Ianello, Bernie Parmalee, and Brian Polian. How do you think Bryant Young or Ron Powlus feel, knowing their triumphant returns to their alma mater didn’t go the way they expected? Corwin Brown and Jon Latina, two coaches that had impeccable reputations before arriving in South Bend, now might not get another offer to coordinate a college defense because of the Irish’s inept performance this season.

While Jack Swarbrick announced that Charlie Weis was out as head coach effective today, the assistant coaches are still around, precariously awaiting a fate that most likely will have them leaving the program when a new coach arrives. But they’ll solider on, and even hit the recruiting trail according to Ianello.

“We’re going to have seven coaches on the road recruiting as of tomorrow
afternoon and Wednesday and Thursday for this University. Coaches are
going to go out and contact first and foremost all our committed
players and see some guys that are uncommitted that we’re still
involved with.”

During the press conference, Ianello was asked about how he was going to balance his uncertain future with his commitment to athletic director Jack Swarbrick during this transition. He was incredibly candid.

“I’ve committed to Jack to do all I can during this transition for the
University, and I’m going to devote my time and efforts to that. I
think you’d be naïve to think that if I didn’t reach out to some other
people to make sure to secure my future, also, that that would be naïve
for you to think that. But I’m going to give all my energies to Notre
Dame, and if other opportunities come along the way, then we’ll deal
with them as they come. But this coaching staff is a very professional
coaching staff, a very committed coaching staff, and they will
certainly do the University right during this transition.

From the sounds of it, most recruits remain on-board with the Irish, and eagerly await some news on the next head coach. Top defensive recruit Chris Martin has de-committed from the Irish, but is willing to consider the next coaching staff, which is about all the next coach could realistically ask from a player of Martin’s stature.

Swarbrick’s asking a lot of a coaching staff that many believe are dead men walking, but like Ianello said, these guys are a true group of professionals.